I have a lionel 1666 from 1947 and a 610 switcher from 1955 that both have VERY sensitive eunits. they run about 3'-5' in one direction, then blink, switch directions for about the same distance, and do this nonstop with smaller distance traveled each time. does anyone know how to fix it? I've tried taping the lever in place, attaching a self made pickup car to fix current disruptions, and the like.
Maybe,Sounds like it could be a wire has come loose at where they go into the e-unit. Check to see if the wires are solid at the e-unit and look for cracked or missing installation where it may be shorting out making it think it is being switched. I have had the wire loose at the e-unit and saw the same issue with my older units.
A place to start.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
I agree with kevin but could be a few other things the E-unit needs cleaning or the fingers ( as they call them) in the E-unit has one or more bent. Or as old as they are maybe just worn out and need rebuilt or replaced
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
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The fact that the light blinks indicates a loss of power to the locomotive itself.
Either something is shorting out, or there is a bad connection from the rollers to the e-unit. Also make sure the wheels, pickup rollers and track are clean.
Larry
If the switch lever is loose when it is in the position to turn the E unit on, the E unit will cycle due to vibration. The switch levers get loose because the circuit board they are mounted on will warp due to age. What I have done in the past is bend the tip of the lever which contacts the rivet on the circuit board. For a steamer, I take the motor out and then take the E unit out of the motor assembly and rotate the lever until I can grab the tip of the lever that contacts the rivet with a pair of pliers. Then I bend the tip a little until it makes a good contact with the rivet. Bend the lever with a twisting motion, not by pressing on the tip with force.
Some folks recommend slipping a horseshoe washer behind either the spring washer to tighen them up. You can also slip a horseshoew washer between the fiber board and the metal e-unit frame. I usually break down the e-unit and do a complete rebuild if the lever is loose.
Sometime I think the E-unit's eyelet stretches. This seems to be especially true of e-unit switches put together with a "copper" eyelet.
I too have a 1666 and the 610 Erie on my layout. My 1666 was giving me problems with the sliding pic-up shoe. Going over switches would trip the E-unit. I have a 243W whistle tender from a 243 Scout Locomotive. I spliced a wire to the wire to the headlamp in the locomotive. In the tender I added a 2 screw treminal strip and spliced in a wire from the pick-up roller and made a plug with spade connectors and styrene tube. See photos. With the additional pickup roller on the tender the locomotive will go across switches with no problem.
Steve
Sounds like it is time to take it apart and start looking at the other issues replied to here. You will find it. I have also seen the e-unit lever loose a quick try is put a small piece of aluminum foil in between the contacts to temporarily tighten it up first and see if that helps. You should be able to see if the contact is loose first though.
The connector that Steve described is called a Faston. They are available with integral insulation, so that you don't need a sleeve:
A spade connector is something else:
Bob Nelson
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